It has been 64 years since Oklahomans elected Marine Corps veteran and farmer Henry Bellmon as their first Republican governor. Old hands in Sooner State politics say Bellmon’s historic election was due to a bitter and crowded Democratic primary followed by a runoff often described as “incendiary” or “bloody.” Publisher W.P. “Bill” Atkinson barely won the 1962 runoff over former Gov. Raymond Gary. But the divisive contest left lasting scars, and Bellmon scored his historic win with 55% of the vote.
This year’s Republican runoff has been so bitter that no matter who wins, some believe it could result in state House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson becoming the state’s first Democratic governor in more than 20 years. Competing for the Republican nomination are state Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who received 26.25% of the vote in the June primary, and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei, who got 25.97%.
“The lesson everyone should learn about President Trump is never speak bad about him, as you WILL suffer his wrath,” former Oklahoma GOP National Committeewoman Pam Pollard said in an email. She was referring to Drummond’s much-publicized response to a 2017 fundraising letter on behalf of Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., in which he wrote: “Kevin’s affinity for Trump is a non-starter for me. Any meeting is a waste of time.”
Drummond’s wife also donated $1,000 to Trump’s 2020 presidential rival, Joe Biden, though she said the contribution was made mistakenly using her credit card and requested a refund. Drummond has said he agrees with Trump’s hard-line stance on crime but also voiced disagreement with the president’s tariffs. Trump has endorsed Mazzei in a video and dismissed Drummond as a “total RINO,” or Republican in name only.
